What happened
- USS Colorado arrived on 27 October for about a month of maintenance, the fourth submarine maintenance period in WA under AUKUS.
- It is the third nuclear-powered submarine maintained in Australia within 12 months.
- Fifteen WA businesses are supplying scaffolding, cranage and rigging, welding equipment, testing and certification and environmental services, alongside a pure water plant, a high-pressure air compressor and a dehumidifier.
- Colorado will be the first US submarine assigned to Submarine Rotational Force-West from late 2027, a force of up to four Virginia-class boats and one Astute-class boat.
Why it matters
Pier-side submarine maintenance in Western Australia is becoming routine, and it is drawing on a local supply chain for testing, certification and fluid-system support. Contractors who can work to submarine standards in WA now have a recurring programme to plan around.
SI briefing summarising public reporting by Defence Connect. Figures are as reported by the source.
